The run-around was becoming a bit much for Floyd andEliza, who had not expected the age worn journal to merit concealment from unknown eyes. Of course, judging by the interest that stemmed from any person lucky enough to view the book, concealment was now required. As long as they could get it into the hands of theLorekeepers, whom they have decided to trust, the answer to the twins’ financial trouble was over.
Their next destination would add little weight to the scale of golden virtue.
The group could smell greed emanating from the door ofGood Ol’ Stumpy’s Pawn Shop, so they made a plan. They were down to three guns since twoWaltzers had just taken one of the four muskets NeitherSaul nor Eliza knew how to fire a gun so they decided to store the excess ammo and offer up the third musket as a means for trade, leaving both Floyd andLawrence reasonably armed.
As they entered the Pawn Shop, an oversized guard, who was seeing double and reeked of whiskey, gave them each a rather rough frisk. Floyd stood near and made sure the sots’ inspection of his sister was decent, and when it proved to be so Floyd engaged in light banter, expressing a certain fondness for the brand of whiskey drank by the guard as it reminded him of his now deceased father. The guard introduced himself with a hiccup, followed by a gurgle and slur, as he struggled to proclaim, “My name isLumpy”. Floyd was interested in continuing the conversation, but as he began to do so, Lumpy slumped in his chair and nodded off. Dejected, Floyd returned to the group, meeting Lawrence at the display case where he was doing his best to strike a deal withStumpy.
Floyd whispered to Lawrence, “Anything good?”
“Get a load of the steam-tech they got here. Some of this stuff is way beyond our budget, but I might be able to haggle down one of these steam cannons or asteam throwers,” said Lawrence.
The two men eyed the dynamite. Floyd was very interested in acquiring explosives. Stumpy began to lure Floyd into a dynamite sale when Eliza returned and cut off the broker mid speech.
“Any luck?” asked Eliza.
“They have some nice guns,” said Lawrence in a quiet voice.
“Guns?” Eliza couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “We have guns. We are getting rid of guns. We don’t need guns.”
“They have dynamite,” Floyd whispered.
“No. Floyd, we need a tent. I don’t want to stay under the roof of any of these crazy peoples’ homes’ tonight. If not for me, then do it for Saul. I found somegauze andhydrogen peroxide. With the way everyone is running around fully armed I have a bad feeling we best be prepared.”
Lawrence consented to the idea of equipment over weaponry.
“I really wanted to blow something up,” Floyd whispered to Lawrence, beyond the earshot of his twin sister. Lawrence smiled, but his mirth was brief once Eliza caught his eye.
“Excuse me sir, do you have any hats?” Saul asked Stumpy. The pawn broker hadn’t noticed Saul before that moment and wore a look of genuine surprise.
“I’m not looking for a steam hat. I would like something more fashionable.”
“You want a top hat, kid? Go to a thrift shop.”
Lawrence sensed the growing irritation in the pawn broker’s voice so he made an attempt to smooth things over. “Stumpy, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lawrence and as a fellow merchant, I must say you have a lovely shop here.”
“Whaddya’ want, bub? And make it quick,” said Stumpy, proving that he was not one for small talk.
“Well, we were hoping you might be able to lend us a bit of information. Say along the lines of where the Lorekeepers might be staying. We heard they went, “underground”.
“Listen pal, what you hear ain’t none of my business and my business ain’t none of yours,” said Stumpy. “Yeah I deal with the Lorekeepers. But I deal with the Fighting Phil’s, theGod’s Fist, theDreamers, and those good for nothingWaltzers too, but I’m about ready to not deal with you. Unless of course, you got something to sell or something you wanna buy, otherwise get the Hell out my store.”
“We have this musket,” said Lawrence.
“Where’d you get that?” said Stumpy. He was intrigued and held the gun loose and looked down the barrel, pointing it in the direction of Saul who was rummaging through the inventory in the far back corner, still determined to find a hat. “Pow,” he said, under his breath, once Saul was in the scope, giving the gun a slight lift. He turned the gun on Floyd, who stared at Stumpy. “Pow,” he said again, lifting the gun a bit more emphatically this time. “Looks like it’s in good condition,” he said.
“It is in good condition,” said Lawrence, trying not to be unnerved by Stumpy’s display. “And I thought we made it clear, our businesses were our own.”
Stumpy liked the cut of Lawrence’s tongue at that moment and decided to be fair, or at least he decided not to entirely rip them off.
“What do you want for it? Asked Stumpy. “Credits? Trade?”
“We want a tent, gauze, and hydrogen peroxide,” said Eliza, walking to the counter with the items she had just listed off.
“At least one of you can make a decision,” said Stumpy, smiling at Eliza.
“Saul, did you find a hat?” Eliza asked.
“No. I found this bag though.”
“Bring it up,” said Eliza.
“One musket in fair exchange for a tent, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, and a burlap sack.” That’s one Hell of a deal,” said Stumpy. “Alright, now get out of my store.”
The run-around was becoming a bit much for Floyd and Eliza, who had not expected the age worn journal to merit concealment from unknown eyes. Of course, judging by the interest that stemmed from any person lucky enough to view the book, concealment was now required. As long as they could get it into the hands of the Lorekeepers, whom they have decided to trust, the answer to the twins’ financial trouble was over.
Their next destination would add little weight to the scale of golden virtue.
The group could smell greed emanating from the door of Good Ol’ Stumpy’s Pawn Shop, so they made a plan. They were down to three guns since two Waltzers had just taken one of the four muskets Neither Saul nor Eliza knew how to fire a gun so they decided to store the excess ammo and offer up the third musket as a means for trade, leaving both Floyd and Lawrence reasonably armed.
As they entered the Pawn Shop, an oversized guard, who was seeing double and reeked of whiskey, gave them each a rather rough frisk. Floyd stood near and made sure the sots’ inspection of his sister was decent, and when it proved to be so Floyd engaged in light banter, expressing a certain fondness for the brand of whiskey drank by the guard as it reminded him of his now deceased father. The guard introduced himself with a hiccup, followed by a gurgle and slur, as he struggled to proclaim, “My name is Lumpy”. Floyd was interested in continuing the conversation, but as he began to do so, Lumpy slumped in his chair and nodded off. Dejected, Floyd returned to the group, meeting Lawrence at the display case where he was doing his best to strike a deal with Stumpy.
Floyd whispered to Lawrence, “Anything good?”
“Get a load of the steam-tech they got here. Some of this stuff is way beyond our budget, but I might be able to haggle down one of these steam cannons or a steam throwers,” said Lawrence.
“Do they have grenades?” asked Floyd.
“They have dynamite,” said Lawrence.
The two men eyed the dynamite. Floyd was very interested in acquiring explosives. Stumpy began to lure Floyd into a dynamite sale when Eliza returned and cut off the broker mid speech.
“Any luck?” asked Eliza.
“They have some nice guns,” said Lawrence in a quiet voice.
“Guns?” Eliza couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “We have guns. We are getting rid of guns. We don’t need guns.”
“They have dynamite,” Floyd whispered.
“No. Floyd, we need a tent. I don’t want to stay under the roof of any of these crazy peoples’ homes’ tonight. If not for me, then do it for Saul. I found some gauze and hydrogen peroxide. With the way everyone is running around fully armed I have a bad feeling we best be prepared.”
Lawrence consented to the idea of equipment over weaponry.
“I really wanted to blow something up,” Floyd whispered to Lawrence, beyond the earshot of his twin sister. Lawrence smiled, but his mirth was brief once Eliza caught his eye.
“Excuse me sir, do you have any hats?” Saul asked Stumpy. The pawn broker hadn’t noticed Saul before that moment and wore a look of genuine surprise.
“Steam Hats are behind the counter,” said Stumpy.
“I’m not looking for a steam hat. I would like something more fashionable.”
“You want a top hat, kid? Go to a thrift shop.”
Lawrence sensed the growing irritation in the pawn broker’s voice so he made an attempt to smooth things over. “Stumpy, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lawrence and as a fellow merchant, I must say you have a lovely shop here.”
“Whaddya’ want, bub? And make it quick,” said Stumpy, proving that he was not one for small talk.
“Well, we were hoping you might be able to lend us a bit of information. Say along the lines of where the Lorekeepers might be staying. We heard they went, “underground”.
“Listen pal, what you hear ain’t none of my business and my business ain’t none of yours,” said Stumpy. “Yeah I deal with the Lorekeepers. But I deal with the Fighting Phil’s, the God’s Fist, the Dreamers, and those good for nothing Waltzers too, but I’m about ready to not deal with you. Unless of course, you got something to sell or something you wanna buy, otherwise get the Hell out my store.”
“We have this musket,” said Lawrence.
“Where’d you get that?” said Stumpy. He was intrigued and held the gun loose and looked down the barrel, pointing it in the direction of Saul who was rummaging through the inventory in the far back corner, still determined to find a hat. “Pow,” he said, under his breath, once Saul was in the scope, giving the gun a slight lift. He turned the gun on Floyd, who stared at Stumpy. “Pow,” he said again, lifting the gun a bit more emphatically this time. “Looks like it’s in good condition,” he said.
“It is in good condition,” said Lawrence, trying not to be unnerved by Stumpy’s display. “And I thought we made it clear, our businesses were our own.”
Stumpy liked the cut of Lawrence’s tongue at that moment and decided to be fair, or at least he decided not to entirely rip them off.
“What do you want for it? Asked Stumpy. “Credits? Trade?”
“We want a tent, gauze, and hydrogen peroxide,” said Eliza, walking to the counter with the items she had just listed off.
“At least one of you can make a decision,” said Stumpy, smiling at Eliza.
“Saul, did you find a hat?” Eliza asked.
“No. I found this bag though.”
“Bring it up,” said Eliza.
“One musket in fair exchange for a tent, hydrogen peroxide, gauze, and a burlap sack.” That’s one Hell of a deal,” said Stumpy. “Alright, now get out of my store.”